Groove Music and Spotify: FAQ

First published on October 2, 2017. Revised on June 1, 2018, upon announcement of the discontinuation of the Groove Music iOS and Android apps.

On October 2, 2017, we announced that we'd be partnering with Spotify to bring the world’s largest music streaming service to you. We know that access to the best streaming experience, the largest catalog of music, and a variety of subscriptions are top of your list.

On January 1, 2018, the Groove Music Pass streaming service was discontinued. If your Pass subscription went beyond December 31, 2017, we will give you (or already gave you) a prorated refund or a Microsoft gift card (see timing details below). We’ll continue to update the Windows 10 Groove Music app for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone so you can play and manage the music you’ve purchased and downloaded to these devices or uploaded to OneDrive, but the app will no longer stream or play Groove Music Pass content.

What happened to the Groove Music Pass?

The Groove Music Pass streaming service was discontinued on January 1, 2018. The Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC and Windows Phone will continue to play all the music you’ve purchased and downloaded or uploaded to OneDrive but will no longer stream or play any Groove Music Pass content.

What's happening to the Groove Music app?

We’ll continue to update the Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone so you can play your purchased music, including the tracks you’ve uploaded to OneDrive. On December 31, 2017, the option to stream, purchase, and download music from Groove Music was discontinued. If your purchased music was downloaded, you’ll still be able to listen to it.

What was Groove Music Pass content?

Groove Music Pass content was music and music videos that could be streamed or downloaded during your Groove Music Pass subscription. The Music Pass provided you with a streaming service of songs you didn’t need to own locally to play, as well as editorial playlist recommendations and the ability to create your own playlists.

I pre-paid for an annual Groove Music Pass. What were my options?

Your recurring annual Groove Music Pass continued through December 31, 2017. If your Pass subscription extended beyond December 31, 2017, then by February 1, 2018, Microsoft gave you a prorated refund from December 31, 2017 onwards (if we were able to issue a refund to your credit card/payment instrument on file). If we were unable to refund your payment instrument on file, Microsoft provided 120% of that prorated amount in a Microsoft gift card in your Microsoft account to spend at the Microsoft Store.

If you canceled your annual Groove Music Pass subscription before December 31, 2017, then:

If you canceled your subscription within 30 days of the start of your subscription, we gave you a full refund if we have your credit card/payment instrument information and it supports refunds. If we couldn’t refund your payment instrument on file, we provided 120% of that amount in Microsoft gift card value.

If you canceled your subscription after 30 days from the start of your subscription, we gave you a prorated refund (if we could issue a refund to your credit card/payment instrument on file). If we couldn’t refund your payment instrument on file, Microsoft provided 120% of that prorated amount in Store credit.

I was a monthly Groove Music Pass subscriber. What were my options?

If your subscription extended beyond December 31, 2017, then by February 1, 2018, Microsoft provided you with a prorated refund from December 31, 2017 onwards (if we could issue a refund to your credit card/payment instrument on file). If your payment instrument on file didn't support refunds, Microsoft provided 120% of that prorated amount in a Microsoft gift card.

I bought a Groove Music Pass and haven’t redeemed it. What are my options?

As of October 2, 2017, you can no longer redeem your Groove Music Pass. Microsoft will offer 120% of the value of your unused pre-paid Groove Music Pass as store credit to spend at the Microsoft Store. This offer is valid until December 31, 2018. If you haven’t redeemed your pass yet and want to get your credit, contact customer support.

I was a Groove Music Pass subscriber. Will my subscription automatically transfer to Spotify?

No. If you want access to tens of millions of streaming songs at no cost, you can try Spotify anytime with Spotify’s free offering.

I got my Groove Music Pass as part of a promotional offer. Am I eligible for a refund?

No. If you got your Groove Music Pass for free, and it didn’t come as part of another Microsoft purchase, you don’t qualify for a refund.

Will I still be able to play music I downloaded with Music Pass?

No. As of December 31, 2017, all Groove Music Pass content is unplayable, including streaming music, downloaded tracks, and music videos.

Will I still be able to play music I purchased from the Microsoft Store?

If you downloaded your purchased music to your devices before December 31, 2017, you’ll be able to play it through the Windows 10 Groove apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone. Get more info about playing your music on iOS and Android devices. As of December 31, 2017, music isn't available for purchase or download in the Microsoft Store or for streaming in Groove.

Can I still download all my purchased music?

No. When Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Groove Music Pass streaming service on October 2, 2017, we notified customers that purchased music would be available to download until December 31, 2017. Unfortunately, that window has now passed. If you've already downloaded your music and want to listen on a PC, you can do that by uploading your purchased music to OneDrive. If you don’t use OneDrive (or another cloud storage service), you can also transfer your purchased music from one of your devices to another device for your own personal, non-commercial use. Get more info about playing your music on iOS and Android devices.

What happened to my purchased music if I didn't download it?

When Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Groove Music Pass streaming service on October 2, 2017, we notified customers that music would be available to download until December 31, 2017. Unfortunately, that window has now passed. If you've already downloaded your music and want to listen on a PC, you can do that by uploading your purchased music to OneDrive. If you don’t use OneDrive, you can also transfer your downloaded purchased music from one of your devices to another device for your own personal, non-commercial use.

Will I still be able to play my local music files?

Yes. Local files will still be playable with the Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC and Windows Phone.

Will I still be able to play music from OneDrive?

Yes. Music you own that’s uploaded to your OneDrive music folder can still be streamed with the Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone.

I wasn't a Groove Music Pass subscriber. How does this affect me?

Nothing has changed for you. You can continue to play your local, OneDrive, or purchased content that you have downloaded through the Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone. If you want access to tens of millions of streaming songs at no cost, you can try Spotify anytime with Spotify’s free offering.

Can I still move my music to Spotify?

No. When Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Groove Music Pass streaming service on October 2, 2017, we notified customers that Groove Music Pass content would be available to move to Spotify until January 31, 2018. Unfortunately, that window has now passed.

What happened to my music after I moved it to Spotify?

All the music that had a match in Spotify’s catalog now appears in your Spotify library and playlists. All your purchased or uploaded non-Groove Music Pass music will remain untouched in the Windows 10 and Xbox Groove Music apps. Music you own and that is stored locally on your hard drive or on OneDrive is untouched and will continue to be playable through the Windows 10 and Xbox Groove Music apps.

When moving my music to Spotify, I was asked to give Groove access to some information. What did you ask for and why?

To effectively move your music to Spotify, there were five pieces of information we needed temporary access to. After moving your music to Spotify, all the data we accessed from Spotify was deleted.

"Access your subscription details" gave Groove access to your region so we could add the correct songs to your Spotify library, since song availability differs from region to region.

"Access your saved tracks and albums" let Groove see what was in your Spotify library at the time so we didn't add duplicate tracks or more tracks than the library can hold.

"Access your private playlists" let Groove see what tracks you already had in playlists in Spotify so we didn't add duplicates.

"Manage your private playlists" let Groove create and add songs to playlists in Spotify to replicate the playlists you created in Groove.

I can’t find all my music from Groove after moving my collection to Spotify. What happened to it?

We did our best to preserve your collection and playlists when moving, but there may have been some cases where we couldn’t find a matching song in Spotify’s collection. If you used a Windows 10 PC to move your music, we stored a list of the songs we were unable to move in a file on your computer named GrooveMigration.txt. The file is in your music library folder, which for most people is found at C:\users\[username]\Music\. Music you own and that is stored on your hard drive or OneDrive can still be played with the Windows 10 Groove Music app.

Did playlists I followed move to Spotify?

No. Playlists you created moved to Spotify, but playlists created by Groove didn't.

As a part of my Groove Music Pass subscription, I had additional OneDrive storage. What happened to that?

If OneDrive storage was included in your Groove Music Pass subscription, your storage was reduced to OneDrive’s standard free tier plan on December 31, 2017, unless you were contacted by Microsoft.

What did you do about the Groove Music Pass customers who are over their OneDrive free storage plan limit?

Microsoft followed up directly with the small number of Groove Music Pass customers in this situation and provided options to take care of their needs.

Does Spotify stream from OneDrive?

No. Spotify doesn’t stream music from OneDrive. Music you upload to your OneDrive music folder can still be streamed and downloaded on a PC with the Windows 10 Groove Music app.

What’s happening to Groove Music on iOS and Android?

As of June 1, 2018, the Groove Music iOS and Android apps are no longer available for download from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. On December 1, 2018, the Groove Music iOS and Android apps will be retired. After that date the apps won’t work and should be uninstalled. Get more info about the Groove Music apps for iOS and Android.

What other music streaming apps are available for Windows?

Depending on your region, there are many other streaming music apps in the Microsoft Store, including Pandora, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Deezer, TuneIn Radio, and SiriusXM.